Todd Vervynckt

Major: Mechanical Engineering Minor: None

Extracurricular Activities:
Men’s soccer team, Tau Beta Pi, Saint Baldrick’s Foundation Volunteer, Saint Teresa Parishioner

Honors and Awards:
Academic All-American (Third team in 2013 and First-team in 2014), Horizon League All Academic Team, Most Valuable Offensive Player (Team Award), Eastmond Outstanding Senior Award, Distinguished Honor Roll every semester, Selected to join Tau Beta Pi

Internship(s):
Summer Research Intern at Valparaiso University – Helped assemble the 10 kilowatt spherical solar concentrator and focus the concentrator’s mirrors. Design Quality Engineering Co-op at DePuy Synthes – Performed post-market surveillance activities which include trend analysis and signal assessments. Conducted process verifications on new product development launches and wrote and completed installation qualifications for measurement equipment.

Research Interest:
I was mainly involved with solar research during my time here at Valpo. I started with the construction of the 10 kilowatt spherical concentrator the summer after my freshman year. From there, I designed, analyzed, and machined various components needed for the Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF). For example, I fabricated holders for the emergency stop buttons located within the SERF. I was also part of the senior design team that was tasked with designing the National Science Foundation funded solar thermal reactor to decompose iron oxide. My contributions to the project included the design and thermal analysis of the reactor. I also have been involved with the design and development of a water electrolysis cell. Most recently I was in charge of created a water-cooled lid for the cell, which was to create an isothermal lid to help with heat transfer.

Favorite Quote:
You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.

Prospective plan for after graduation:
I will be working at DePuy Synthes as a Design Quality Engineer.

My favorite memory at Valparaiso University would have to be my sophomore year when, as a member of the Men’s soccer team, we won the horizon league regular season title and hosted the horizon league tournament. Stepping out onto the field, it was amazing to see how many fans came out to support us even in the bitter cold. Even though we lost that game in penalty kicks, it was a surreal moment in my soccer career and certainly one I will never forget. I continue to enjoy seeing the success of all our athletic teams, and I will always be rooting for the Crusaders.